Washing machine with divided container and axial inlet



AQMILLER Ma rch Z, 1948.

WASHING MACHINE WITH DIVIDED CONTAINER AND AXIAL INLET Filed 051;. 26, 1945 INVENTOR ABE MILLER s I ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1948 UNITED STATE WASHING MACHINE WITH DIVIDED CON- TAINER AND AXIAL INLET Abe Miller, Detroit, Mich.

ApplicationOctober 26, 1945, Serial No. 624,860

2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to washing machines and, in particular, it relates to a washing machine embodying features of construction with particular reference to means for introducing water for rinsing laundry within a washing machine.

Washing machines for commercial laundries usually comprise a cylindrically disposed tank within which a cylindrical and perforated container is rotatable. For washing and rinsing purposes, water is usually introduced into the container through a conduit joining the tank at one or more locations through the outer container. When water is introduced in this manner it merely functions to fill the container with the desired quantity of water. The introduction of the water itself has little or no direct action against the laundry. Consequently, the force and distribution of the water is not utilizedto its best advantage in rinsing the laundry..

In accordance with'the practice of my invention I provide a washing machine of the conventional cylindrical type having incorporated therein a perforated conduit extending axially through the center of the washing machine. This conduit extends through a bore in the main drive shaft for rotating the container and joins with a swivel joint which, in turn, is connected with a water supply. By an arrangement of this type it is possible to force a plurality of jets of water from the perforated conduit directly against the laundry within the container. This permits the actionof the water in the form of force and distribution to react directly against the laundry thereby facilitating the cleansing and rinsing operation.

In addition to the perforated conduit extending axially through the rotatable container, 1 separate the container into a plurality of compartments by incorporating horizontally positioned plates extending radially from the perforated conduit to the outer wall of the rotatable container. This permits several batches of laundry to be washed simultaneously and at the same time the construction is so disposed thatthe perforated conduit lies in a path directly against which the laundry rests during part of its cycle of operation. This novel arrangement results in the rinsdry while the laundry is located both adjacent to the conduit or while the laundry is in any other position within the compartment of the container.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a washing machine of the horizontal type in which the direction, the force, and distribution of the incoming water is utilized to its best ading water being ejected directly against the laun- 2 vantage in the rinsing operation; to provide such an arrangement which is conducive toward efficient operation in combination with a multiple compartment container; and, to provide .a construction of the character described which is economical of manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a washing apparatus embodying features of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation view, partly in section, of a portion of one end of the apparatus; and

Figure 3 is a transverse view, in section, of the washing machine taken along lines III-III of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, I show an embodiment of my invention in the form of a commercial type of laundry machine comprising essentially a horizontally disposed cylindrical tank I. The tank is. supported from the floor by legs 2 and 3. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a perforated cylindrical container 4 lies within the tank I and is rotatably adapted therein. This perforated container functions as a receptacle for the laundry and is made as large as possible allowing clearance only for itsrotation within the tank I. The perforated container 4 is provided with a plurality of baffles 5 and 5' extending horizontally of the container and substantially radially of the container.

These bafiies are V-shaped in formation and their walls form a continuation of the walls of the perforated container 4. End plates 6 provide an'enclosure for each end of the container 4.

In order to support the container 4 in an axial relationship within the tank I, a shaft 1 is mounted at one end of the tank and container and a shaft 1' at the opposite end. The shafts 1 extend through end plates 8 which enclose the ends of the tank I and are mounted in bearings 9 supported bybrackets 10 attached to the end plates 8 by means of bolts l0. Also attached by welding. to each of the end plates 8 is a flanged member ll through which the shaft I extends. The perforated container 4 is secured to the shaft 1 by means of a flange or spider l2 rigidly fastened to each shaft I.

The V-shaped opening resulting from the formation of the baffies 5 permit the reception of a V-shaped heavy plate l3 in each ofthe V-shaped openings. This plate is secured permanently to the baflles as by a welding operation similar but slightly larger bafiles are positioned along the container 4 between the baflles 5', and a V-shaped plate I3 is welded in each suchbpening formed by the bafile.

The flange [2 extending from each shaft 1 lies adjacent the heavy plates l3, and bolts l4 join these members securely together, thus providing a drive from the shaft 1 to the outer periphery or portion of the perforated container 4. The plates 13 are attached to the flange 12 by means of bolts l4.

This drive concentrates the load on the flange l2 without any engagement of the drive to the end plate 6.

In order to insert and to remove laundry from the tank I a sliding door 16 is provided, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The sliding door is arcuate in form to suit the conformity of the wall of the tank I. The size of this opening is determined in accordance with the convenience required to insert or remove laundry from the container. Retaining members [8 are positioned on either side of the sliding door and are attached to the Wall of the tank I. Each of the retaining members are provided with a recess l8 which, in combination with the wall of the tank, enables the door IE to be slidably retained in a position adjacent the wall of the tank 4. A handle l9 permits an operator to grasp and actuate the sliding door.

Extending horizontally through the perforated container 4 at a point representing the axis thereof is a perforated conduit 20. This conduit is secured to the end plates 6 by being welded thereto. A bore 2i is formed in the shaft 1 and an extension conduit 22 is forced into this bore. A portion 23 of the extension conduit projects inwardly of the perforated conduit 20. At the opposite end of the extension conduit is attached a conventional type of swivel joint 24 to which is connected a piping system 24 extending to a source of water supply. By this arrangement, it is possible to force water froma stationary piping system to the rotatable perforated conduit 20 from which the water is ejected in streams throughout the length of the conduit and throughout the length of the. perforated container 4.

Where a single batch machine is utilized, it is not good practice to provide a horizontally extending shaft or conduit through the length of the perforated container. This is objectionable because the laundry, in going through its washing cycle, would result in thelaunury dropping upon and being retained by the horizontally extending member. A condition of this kind is avoided by dividing the perforated container into a plurality of compartments 38, 39 and 40 in which each compartment extends the full length of the perforated container. These compartments are formed by the partition wall 25 formed of a perforated plate positioned along the length of the perforated container and extending radially from the conduit 20 to the inner wall of the perforated container.

To permit access to the compartments, hinged doors 26 are provided in the wall of the perforated container in each of the compartments. Good results may be obtained by dividing the perforated container into two or more compartments. I have found that by dividing the container into three compartments exceptionally good results are obtained.

At the lower terminus of the tank is a foot operated valve 21 of a quick opening conventional type. A second foot pedal 28 includes a latch member which retains or releases the valve 21 upon actuation of one or the other foot pedals. In washing machines of this type it is generally customary to provide a trough (not shown) in the floor below the valve 21 to facilitate rapid draining of the tank. During the washing cycle the perforated container is rotated continuously. An exampleof a drive is illustrated in the form of a motor 29 supported on a plate 30 attached to the top of the tank 1. Through a motor pulley 3|, belt 32 and pulley 33, acountershaft 34 is driven. Keyed to each end of the countershaft is a pulley 35 which, through a belt 36, drives a pulley 3'! keyed to each of the shafts 1, thus causing rotary jected into the machine through the perforated conduit 20. At the end of the washing cycle the unclean Water is removed through the dumping valve 21, and, thereafter, the rinsing water is introduced through the perforated conduit 20 while the perforated container is being rotated. If desired, the dumping valve may be left open during this rinsing operation, or the valve may be closed and the rinsing carried out with the main tank partially filled with water.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I have provided a washing machine having construction features which are new and which are limited to a specific field and resulting in an improved washing machine which permits the rinsing operation to be conducted efficiently and expeditiously.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of those modifications which appear obviously within the spirit of the invention and as appearing within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a'washing machine comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical tank, a perforated cylindrical container positioned for rotation within the tank, end plates enclosing the cylindrical container, drive shafts positioned coaxially with the cylindrical container at each end thereof, at least one of said drive shafts having a bo're extending axially therethrough, a perforated conduit extending axially through the cylindrical container and attached to the end plates thereof, a conduit extending through the bore in the oneshaft and communicating with the perforated conduit, and a coupling joint attached to the conduit extending through said bore and communicating with a source of fluid, said conduit extending through said bore having a projecting portion for extending partly within the perforated conduit.

2. In a washing machine comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical tank, a perforated cylindrical container positioned for rotation within the tank, end plates enclosing the cylindrical container, drive shafts positioned coaxially with the cylindrical container at each end thereof, at least one of said drive shafts having a bore extending axially therethrough, a perforated conduit extending axially through the cylindrical container and attached to the end plates thereof, a conduit extending through the bore in the one shaft and communicating with the perforated conduit, a coupling joint attached to the conduit extending through said bore and communicating with a source of fluid, and a plurality of pertorated dividing plates extending along the length REFERENCES CITED of the perforated container and joining the wall The following references are of record in the of the perforated container and the axially exfile Of this patent! tending perforated conduit, whereby the perfo- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS rated container is divided into a plurality of com-- partments each of which communicates with the Number Name Date 2,264,846 Huebsch Dec. 2, 1941 perforated container.

B MILLER 2,301,807- Miller Nov. 10, 1942 

